Method and device for starting and stopping a dictating machine

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for starting and stopping a dictating machine when transcribing on a typewriter recordings from the dictating machine, controlled on the basis of the activity of the typist at any given time, in that signals originated by the typewriter activity compared with signals derived from the recordings, determine the control parameters.

Waited States Inventor Walter George Wilfrid Petey Utsiksveien, Nesoddtangen, near Oslo, Norway App]. No. 784,425

Filed Dec. 17, 1968 Patented Get. 19, 1971 Priority Dec. 23, 1967 Norway 168,986

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STARTING AND STUPPING A IDICTATING MACHINE 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

ILLS. Cl ..179/ 1100.1VC

int. CI] ..G1l1lb 15/18 Wield ofSearch l79/100.l

VC, 1 VC; 340/148 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,410,835 11/1946 Montague 179/100.1 UX 3,402,266 9/1968 Winther 179/lO0.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 776,656 6/1957 Great Britain l79/lOO.l

Primary Examiner Bernard Konick Assistant Examiner-Raymond 1F. Cardillo, Jr.

Attorney- Young & Thompson ABSTRACT: A method and a device for starting and stopping a dictating machine when transcribing on a typewriter recordings from the dictating machine, controlled on the basis of the activity of the typist at any given time, in that signals originated by the typewriter activity compared with signals derived from the recordings, determine the control parameters.

Mili'llltlth hhllll DEWEE son S'llAlh'llllNG ANT) h'lOPkllNG a DllCTA'lllNG MATCH-limit This invention relates to a method and a device for starting and stopping a dictating machine when transcribing on a typewriter teirt (dictation) or the like which is played back by the dictating machine.

From German Pat. No. 960,508, such a device is known which stops at a pause in the speech and stands still for a predetermined and adjustable time whilst the played-back text is written down. The device can also stop on chosen, adjustable lengths of pause, or at a pause after the lapse of a given, adjustable time. This known device allows a constant time for the typing after this time has been chosen by preadjustment, and if a fairly long, continuous piece of speech should occur, the device will not stop until this piece of speech is finished. Furthermore, as the period during which the dictating machine remains stationary is constant, an equal length of time is allowed for typing irrespective of whether a long or short period elapses before a pause occurs. The result is that the typist must either wait until the device starts if the remainder to be typed is little, or she will not have sufficient time to type that which remains, because the device is controlled on the basis of a preset time. This is naturally a disadvantage which hinders an even and efficient typing from the dictating machine.

The object of the present invention is to furnish a method and a device for starting and stopping a dictating machine when typing on a typewriter text or the like which is played back by the dictating machine, which device is controlled on the basis of the typists activity at any given time.

This is achieved by the method, according to the invention, in that sound levels originating from the played-back speech, are transformed into electrical signals, registered and used to stop the dictating machine after a predetermined quantity of signals has been registered, whilst at the same time one or more electrical pulses caused by operating the typewriter are used to make the dictating machine ready to start whereupon the dictating machine is caused to start when the electrical pulses cease.

Preferably, the electrical signals are registered for storing in an adjustable storing quantity, and the dictating machine is not started until a preselected period of time has elapsed after the cessation of the electrical pulses.

The electrical pulses can also, with advantage, be used to reduce the number of signals registered, possibly cancel out these, in order to delay or prevent the stopping of the dictating machine.

it can further be advantageous that the electrical signals, in addition to being registered and used to stop the dictating machine, are also used to delay the stopping of the machine in such a manner that stopping occurs at the first natural pause in the played-back speech.

Finally, the first signal which occurs immediately after the start of the dictating machine, can be used to trigger a repeat circuit for the dictating machine.

A preferred embodiment of the device for carrying out the method according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a sound level selector and a gate circuit for the selection of sound levels from the dictating machine and the releasing of electrical signals corresponding to the sound levels, a store for storing the quantity of the electrical signals, a contact circuit introduce in the start/stop circuit of the dietating machine, and a trigger circuit controlled by the store and connected to the contact circuit, and also a microphone amplifier associated with the typewriter and connected to the contact circuit.

This device can preferably contain a circuit which, on the occurrence of a pause in the text, activates the trigger circuit when the store is full.

it can be advantageous that the device includes an adjustable time circuit for preselecting the time interval between the cessation of the electrical pulses and the start of the dictating machine.

Errpediently, to the start/stop circuit there may be connected a switch for manual start/stop. and also a switch for manually controlled repetition.

Preferrably, the device may also include a manually operated switch to prevent the storage of the electrical signals which originate from sound which are not to be transcribed, for example repeated text which has already been typed. Such a switch may, with advantage, be a rocker switch.

An embodiment of a device according to the invention will be explained below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. l is a block diagram of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows in diagram the various functions of the device.

In the embodiment in FIG. ll, the speech signal from the dic tating machine if fed to the input l where it is heard in a headset 2 and passed onto a threshold detection device 3 which consists of a transistor, the base of which is blessed past cutoff point in such a manner that comparatively weak signals, that is to say the sounds of consonants, do not cause the transistor to conduct. Vowel sounds will, on the other hand, cause the transistor to conduct and in this manner syllables are detected. The threshold detection device 3 controls a gate circuit d which delivers a pulse for each syllable detected by the threshold detection device 3, and these pulses are integrated in a capacitor ill. The voltage across capacitor thus represents the number of syllables received from the dictating machine.

When the number of syllables increases beyond a preset limit, the voltage across capacitor it) will, through a resistor ill, build up a trigger voltage across a capacitor H which causes a valve 15 to conduct and the anode current of this valve energizes a relay 113 which carries a start/stop contact pair for the dictating machine which is connected at contact point A.

A signal which is produced by operating the keys of the typewriter, for example from a microphone which picks up the sound of the keys striking the roller, is fed through contact point 5 to an amplifier b the output of which, through a contact set in relay 113, connected in parallel with a similar set in a holding relay M, after rectification and subsequent amplification, energizes the holding relay M. A second contact set in the holding relay 114 discharges capacitor 10 which when discharged, will cut of? valve 15 with the result that relay 13 is deenergized. The dictating machine will, however, not start again until also the holding relay Ml has been deenergized, that is to say when the typist has again caught up with the text.

A short delay is necessary after the last signal from the typewriter, and with this in view a manual adjustment facility is included so that this delay may be adjusted to suit the routine of the individual typist.

A diode h and a capacitor 9 connect the output of the threshold detector 3 to capacitor 112 to enable the device to wait for a suitable pause in the dictation before stopping the dictating machine.

If no such suitable pause in the test should occur, the dictating machine will be stopped irrespectively, even though this may occur in the middle of a word. When this happens, there will always be a vowel within a fraction of a second after the holding relay has been deenergized.

if this occurs within a predetermined period of time, an optional repetition circuit 116 can be triggered, with the result that the dictating machine repeats the last words. Normally therefore the dictating machine will stop at a suitable pause in the text, but if this, for some reason or other, is not possible, the last word or two in the text will automatically be repeated when the dictating machine is restarted.

In order to delay the stopping of the dictating machine when the test is being typed as it is heard, each pulse from the dictating machine may control a gate circuit. 7 which discharges the capacitor 10 in such a manner that a standard discharge occurs for each typewriter key depressed. By selecting a suitable ratio between charging pulses from gate circuit a and discharging pulses through gate circuit 7, a certain balance can be achieved between syllables stored in capacitor and syllables removed therefrom. In this manner, the dictating machine will continue to run as long as the gap between the text being listened to and the words typed remains within the preset limit.

For the initial start, and in order to stop if required etc., a manually operated start/stop switch is necessary, preferably a rocker switch readily accessible to the typist near the typewriter keys.

It is also an advantage to have a manually operated switch for repetition. If required, the operation of this switch can also latch a relay which prevents capacitor 10 from being charged on repetition even through the typewriter is not being used. The object of this is that the dictating machine may be repeating some of the text which has already been typed, and this part of the text must not cause capacitor 10 to be charged because, in such an event, the dictating machine would be stopped too early. On completion of the repetition, the typist starts typing again and the first pulse from the typewrite releases the latched relay allowing the charging of capacitor 10 to take place in the normal manner.

Sometimes the text contains instructions which are not to be typed, and it is therefore advantageous to make it possible to stop the charging of capacitor 10. For this purpose, a separate switch can be arranged to prevent the charging, for example combined with the rocker switch, this being held in a particular position, or by latching the last-mentioned relay which will later be released by a pulse from the typewriter.

For normal typing, however, the manual switches are not necessary inasmuch as the dictating machine will automatically feed the typist with text in the right quantities and with suitable pauses adjusted to suit the typists routine.

FIG. 2 shows, in the interval A, that the dictating machine is started (first time manually), and the syllable store is filled in the form of a charging of capacitor 10 in FIG. 1, and the trigger capacitor 12 follows, finally stopping the dictating machine at a suitable pause in the text (bridge to next interval). ln interval B, the dictating machine remains stationary, is ready to start, and waits for a signal from the typewriter. When this signal occurs, at the bridge to the next interval C, on striking the first typewriter key, the syllable store is emptied,'but the holding relay takes over with the result that the dictating machine remains stationary until the pulses from the typewriter cease. After an adjustable pause D of, for example, half a second, the dictating machine starts again and the whole cycle repeats.

In the examples shown, valves and electromechanical relays have been used, but it is clear that, within the scope of the invention, semiconductor components may be used to perform the same operations.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A method of starting and stopping a dictating machine when transcribing on a typewriter text (dictation) or the like which is played-back by the dictating machine, characterized in that sound levels which originate from the playback are transformed into electrical signals, registered and used to stop the dictating machine after a predetennined quantity of signals has been registered, whilst at the same time one or more electrical pulses caused by the operation of the typewriter are used to make the dictating machine ready to start, whereupon the dictating machine is caused to start on the cessation of the electrical pulses.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a first signal which occurs immediately after the starting of the dictating machine, is used to trigger a repeat circuit for the dictating machine.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical signals are registered for storing in an adjustable storing quantity, and that the dictating machine is not caused to start until a preselected time has elapsed from the cessation of the electrical pulses, i

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrical signals, in addition to being registered and used to stop the dictating machine, are also used to delay this stop in such a manner that stopping occurs at the first natural pause in the playback. 

1. A dmethod of starting and stopping a dictating machine when transcribing on a typewriter text (dictation) or the like which is played-back by the dictating machine, characterized in that sound levels which originate from the playback are transformed into electrical signals, registered and used to stop the dictating machine after a predetermined quantity of signals has been registered, whilst at the same time one or more electrical pulses caused by the operation of the typewriter are used to make the dictating machine ready to start, whereupon the dictating machine is caused to start on the cessation of the electrical pulses.
 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a first signal which occurs immediately after the starting of the dictating machine, is used to trigger a repeat circuit for the dictating machine.
 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical signals are registered for storing in an adjustable storing quantity, and that the dictating machine is not caused to start until a preselected time has elapsed from the cessation of the electrical pulses.
 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrical pulses are also used to reduce the number of signals registered, possibly cancel these out, in order to delay or prevent the stopping of the dictating machine.
 5. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrical signals, in addition to being registered and used to stop the dictating machine, are also used to delay this stop in such a manner that stopping occurs at the first natural pause in the playback. 